Shock absorber



Patented Oct. 31, 1950 OFFICE 2,527,930 SHOCK ABSORBER Fred E. Eachman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 31, 1944, Serial No. 547,47 9

2 Claims. 1 My invention relates to shock absorbingdevices and more particularly to shock absorbers of the return oleo type.

The general object of my invention is to provide novel shock absorbing devices of the type in which shocks or impacts are damped by a liquid metering action between two relatively movable members and wherein a gas under pressure forms a resilient connection between the members and isadapted to be further compressed by the movement of the members under impact to cushion the shock and to return the members to their initial relative positions following the shock;

A specific object of my invention is the provision of novel shock, absorbing devices comprising a pair of relatively movable members, namely, a cylinder and a piston rodhaving spaced pistons reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having an end wall adjacent one of said. pistons for providing a deformable reservoir containing a gas under pressure andalso having a wall or baille plate between said pistons providing spaced deformable liquid chambers, said plate having an opening therein through which the rod passes and defining therewith ametering orifice whereby movement of the piston assembly relative to the cylinder in one direction causes pressure on the liquid in one chamber by the associated piston effecting arslow transference of the liquid from the chamber to the other chamber for damping the impact, stroke and further compressing the gas, said wall, having a non-return valve therein providing an additional passage communicating with the chambers whereby expansion of the compressed gas causes movement of the piston assembly relative to said cylinder in an-opposite direction and the slow passage of the liquid through the passage and orifice in the plate effecting a damping action on the rebound stroke of the device In'one modification of the invention, the: spring means afforded by the gas under pressure in the cylinder resiliently sustains the load carried by the device after a predetermined amount of compression of the device has occurred and also serves asan elastic restoring force for returning the device to its extended position under, load following absorption of the impact by the device. I In another modification of the invention, the spring means resilientlyopposes extension of thegdevice by elements respectively connected to, the piston rod and cylinder andmovable away from, each other and also restores the-piston assembly and cylinder to their initial relative positions following absorption of theimpact by the-device;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of a device embodying the invention, showing the same in compressed position. Figure 2 is a horizontal view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1, showing a modified construction in compressed position.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, said device comprises a cylinder 2 and a metering pin or piston rod 4 reciprocal therein. 7

The cylinder 2 is formed in two alignedsections 6 and 8 connected together by a sleeve 10' in telescoping engagement with the adjacent end portions of the same. The end face of the sleeve H3 is welded to the section 6, as indicated at I2, and a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve is in threaded engagement with the section 8. as at l3.

Interposed between the sections 6 and. 8 and engaging the sleeve I0 is the cylinder wallor partition forming a baflie plate M having a packing is on opposite sides thereof compressed be,-

.tween the same and the sections 6 and 8 to form a fluid-tight connection between the sections and sleeve and to hold the. plate in position. in the cylinder.

The piston rod14 passes through a central opening in the bafile plate I4 and isprovided with a pair ofspaced' pistons I 8 and. 2!) slidably engaging the inner surface of the sections 6 and 8', respectively. The bafile plate is positioned between the pistons I8 and 20 and defines with the pistons l8 and Z8 spaced deformable liquid chambers 22 and 24 within the cylinder 2'. The. cylinder 2 and sleeve H] may be provided with aligned openings for the admission of an hydraulic liquid into the chamber 22, said openings being closed by a threaded plug 25, carrying a resilient washer 26 for, Preventing escape of the liquid from the chamber 22.

The piston I8 is mounted on the end portion 21. of the rod 4 within the cylinder, and the hub portion of said pistons defines with said rod an annular recess 28 receiving therewithin a packing 2'9 in engagement with a shoulder 30 of the end portion 27!. The skirt of the piston I8 is formed with a peripheral recessed portion. receiving an elastic packing gland 3i. The packing 2'8 and the gland 31 are urged into tight engagement with the shoulder. 33 and the inner surface of the cylinder 2, respectively,.by a packing gland ring 32, surrounding the piston rod and engaging the glandv 3!, and a nut 34' in threaded engagement with the end of the rod i and bearing againstthe ring 2.. The piston 20' is similarly mounted on a reduced central portion 36 of the rod 4, said rod having a packing 38 interposed between a shoulder 49 thereof and the piston and said piston having a packing gland 42 interposed between a shoulder 44 thereof and a packing gland ring 46, the ring 46 engaging the hub portion of the piston and the packing gland 42 and being urged thereagainst by a nut 48 having threaded engagement-with the rod 4 to compress the packing 38 and the gland 42 into tight engagement with the shoulder 48 and the inner surface of the cylinder, respectively. A lock nut 49 may be provided for preventing the rotation of the nut 418.

The portion of the piston rod 4 between the pistons l8 and 20 is of varying diameter comprising a tapered surface 52 and a tapered surface 54 converging toward the horizontal plane indicated by the line AA in Figure 1, said portion passing through the central opening of the baflle plate [4 during relative movement of the cylinder and piston rod and defining therewith a metering orifice 55 for effecting the gradual transference of a portion of the liquid in the chamber 24 to the chamber 22 upon the compression stroke or the device whereby a primary damping action is afforded between the same for absorbing shock-s transmitted thereto by associated members connected to the bracket 58 of the rod 4 and to the cylinder head or wall 68, and whose relative movements are to be cushioned.

The one end of the cylinder 2 is closed by a cylinder head 60 for defining with the piston IS an air chamber 62 within the cylinder, said head comprising a sleeve 64 engagingthe cylinder end and welded thereto as indicated at 66 and an interior threaded surface for receiving a hollow cap or plug 68. A packing H1 is compressed between the ends of the cylinder and the plug for preventing the escape of compressed air forced into the chamber through a valve l2 mounted in the plug.

The compressed air in the chamber 62 functions to resiliently sustain the normal static load placed upon the device after a predetermined amount of compression of the device has occurred and also serves as an elastic restoring force for returning the device to its normal load position after absorption of a shock by the device.

In addition, the compressed .air within the chamber 62 assists in dampening the rebound stroke of the device as it tends to force the piston I 8 and the associated piston rod 4 and piston 20 continually toward the open end of the cylinder, and by so doing, causes the transference of the liquid in the chamber 22 through the metering orifice 55 and through an additional valvecontrolled passage in the plate [4 to the chamber 24 causing spring controlled but lesser damping action for efiecting accelerated extension or rebound stroke of the device. For this purpose, the baffle plate 14 is provided with valve means for permitting the controlled return of the liquid in the chamber 22 to the chamber 24 during the extension or rebound stroke of the device, affording a lesser and secondary damping action while preventing the transference of the liquid in the chamber 24 to the chamber 22 other than through the metering orifice 56 during the compression or impact stroke of the device. The valve means for efiecting these results comprises a series of openings 14, circularly arranged in the bafile plate 14 and extendingtherethrough into an annular recess 16 of the baiile plate I4. A ring 18 is held within the recess 16 by three bolt and nut assemblies having resilient means sleeved thereon for maintaining the ring in the recess. More particularly, the bolts extend through aligned openings in the ring and bafile plate and also through sleeves 82 fitting within the openings in the baffle plate and engaging the ring. A coil spring 84 surrounds each sleeve 82 and is compressed between the baifle plate and a washer 85 upon engagement of the nut 88 with the threaded end of the bolt 80.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be apparent that movement of the piston l8 toward the baffle plate M by the compressed air in the chamber 62 will cause sufiicient pressure to be imparted to the liquid in the chamber 22 to urge the ring 18 outwardly of the balfle plate against the resistance of the springs 84, thus allowing the flow of the liquid in the chamber 22 through the openings 14 in the baflle plate and into the chamber 24, as well as through the metering orifice 56, to efiect a lesser and secondary damping action on the rebound stroke of the device. It may also be noted that during compression of the device under load or impact, movement of the rod 4 into the cylinder 2 will cause pressure to be exerted on the liquid in the chamber 24 by the piston 20, and the ring 18 will be urged into the recess 1B of the bafiie plate to prevent passage of the liquid from the chamber 24 through the openings 14 in the baffle plate to the chamber 22, said liquid being forced through the metering orifice 56 into the chamber 22.

To illustrate the operation of the device, it will be assumed that the device is operatively interposed between the chassis of a vehicle and one of the wheels thereof so as to transmit to said wheel a predetermined gravitational load constituting part of the weight of the vehicle. In such case the load will cause the piston rod 4 to move inwardly of the cylinder 2, resulting in the graduated and restricted passage of the fluid in the chamber 24 through the metering orifice 56 to the chamber 22 until the air in the chamber 62 is sufliciently compressed to support the entire load on the device.

When the vehicle travels along a smooth road, the shock absorber is under normal static condition and the load isresiliently supported on the compressed air within the device. When the wheel strikes and rides over a bump, the chassis of the vehicle will tend to follow its original course with the result that the shock absorber will be shortened and the piston rod 4 will be moved inwardly of the cylinder 2, causing the compressed air in the chamber 62 to be further compressed by the piston l8 and the liquid in the chamber 24 will flow under pressure imparted thereto by the piston 20 through the constricted metering orifice 56 into the chamber 22 for effecting a primary damping action on the relative movement of the rod and cylinder. During the rebound stroke of the device, a secondary damping action will occur by the liquid in the chamber 22 passing into the chamber 24 through the openings 14 in the bafiie plate and the orifice 56, such respective damping actions being continued until the pressure of the compressed air in the chamber 62 recovers its normal static load supporting condition. When the wheel falls into a depression in the road surface, the shock absorber will be rapidly lengthened and the piston rod will be moved outwardly of the cylinder 2 by the expansion of the compressed air in the chamber 62 urging the piston l8 and the associated piston rod 4 and piston 20 toward the open end of the cylinder 2, The pressure exerted by the piston Ia, on; the liquid. in. the chamber; 22;"Wi1l. cause the ring; Iatobe movedputwardly of the recess 6; of thebaiiie member topermitthe-fiowof theliq uidzthrough the-'meteringorifice 55, and openings 14, ofrthe: bafiie; late and; into the chamber 24. The resistance-of liquid transference within the shock absorber, willnaturally be less on the ex.- tension stroke butxrapidly reassumes the original'valueduring. the compression stroke as the ring;'I8: closes.-: the openings. 14 in. the baffle plate, thus preventing theescape ofs'liquid therethrough, Withthe consequent flowof. the liquid from the chamber. 24rthroughthe orifice 5.5 into the cham ber 22 to. effect. a. damping action on the relative movement of the piston assembly and cylinder and consequent restoration to closely graduated resistance of liquid transference upon the resumption of the normal static load on the device.

It will be apparent that the. load carried by the shock absorber will" be resiliently supported by the air spring formed by the compressed air in the; chamber 62.,,and relative movement. of the cylinder and piston assembly-will be damped by liquidfiow betweenthe chambers 24 and 22 and tozalesser extent by. liquidfiow'from chamber 22 tochamber. 2.4 during the operation of the dev1ce.

Themodification shown in Figure 3 differs from the construction shown in Figure 1 by affording a primary damping action upon the extension stroke: of. the device and a lesser and secondary-damping actionupon the compression stroke ofthe device. Also, themodification differs therefrom by the provision of an air spring affording a resilient connection between two associated members, attached to the piston rod and the cylinder, respectively, and having movement away from each other. To this end, the metering pin or rod I passes through a cylinder head I02 into the cylinder I04. The piston rod I00 is provided with a pair of spaced pistons I06 and I08 affording with the cylinder wall or bafiie plate H0, positioned therebetween, a pair of spaced deformable liquid chambers H2 and H4 in the cylinder. The pistons I06 and I08 are provided with annular recesses H and H6, respectively receiving the packings II! and H8, urged into tight engagement with the rod I00 and the cylinder by nuts H9 for preventing the escape of liquid between the piston hub portions and the rod I00 and between the piston skirts and the inner surface of the cylinder.

The cylinder head I02 and the piston I08 define with the cylinder I04 an air chamber I therewithin for containing compressed air ad-v mitted through a valve I22 in the cylinder head and providing an air spring upon the extension stroke of the device. The cylinder head I02 through which the piston rod I00 passes comprises a sleeve I24 fitted over an end of the cylinder and welded thereto as indicated at I26. A portion of the inner surface of the sleeve is in threaded engagement as at I28 with a hollow cap or plug I30. A packing I32 is seated on the end face of the cylinder and a shoulder I34 of the sleeve to form an airtight joint upon engagement of the packing by the end face of the plug I30. The wall I35 of the plug is formed with an opening I 36 through which the piston rod I00 extends into the cylinder and also with a tubular portion I38 on one side thereof for receiving a packing gland I40 seated on the wall of the plug and urged into engagement with the rod I00 by a gland nut I42 threadedon. the. portion. I38 to prevent airescaping from theJchamber I20.

The. baffle plate H0 is. fixed in the cylinder I04 by a weld I44. The baffle plate incorporates a valve, means similar to those previously described comprising a series of openings. I46 extending through. the. bafiie plate into an annular recess I48, having a ring I50 held therein by the compression of the. springs I52 between the plate and the associated nut and bolt assemblies. It maybenotedthat the ring I50iwill prevent the passage of thefluidinthechamber II2 through the: openings I46: into the chamber II 4 whereby extension of the 'evice will cause the liquid to be: gradually transferred, through the metering orifice. I54: definedby the central opening in thev baffle plate, and thetapered surfaces I56 and I58 ofthe; piston rod I00 to. afford'a primary damping-jaction during extension: of the device. Upon compression. of: the device,-,the. piston rod will be movedinwardlyof the-cylinder I04 whereby the fluid. in. the. chamber; H4 will be placed under pressureby-the piston. I08; causing-the ring I50:

In the modification just: described; it will be' apparent; that when the device isaconnected between a. pair'of. members.- tending to move away from each: other; the. device will be extended to compress the air-inthe air chamber to effect a resilient connection between the members and also the flow of the liquid between the chambers II2 and I I4 will damp relative movement of the members during the impact and with lesser dampening on the rebound stroke of the device, the compression of the air upon the extension of the device under impact tending to compress the device to return the members to their original positions for a-following shock.

It is to be understoood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An hydraulic shock absorber comprising a cylinder having one end thereof open to the atmosphere, the other end of said cylinder being closed against communication with the atmosphere, a partition intermediate the ends of said cylinder, fixed thereto, and dividing the cylinder into spaced chambers, a passage through said partition, a tapered plunger reciprocal within said cylinder and extending into said passage to define a metering orifice therewith, spaced pistons fixed to said plunger at opposite sides of said partition, said chambers being adapted to contain a body of hydraulic fiuid confined between said pistons and metered through said orifice on one stroke of said absorber, said orifice being the sole means for metering said fluid on said one stroke of said absorber one-way, bypass valve means in said partition adapted to accommodate substantially unmetered flow of said fluid between said chambers on the other stroke of said absorber, a spring consisting of a body of compressible gas confined between one of said pistons and the closed end of said cylinder, said gas being the sole spring means for resisting said one stroke of said absorber by compression be-' tween said one piston and the closed end of said cylinder, and said gas being adapted to actuate said absorber on said other stroke thereof, and a slidable fluid tight seal between each piston and said cylinder whereby said fluid is positively spaced at all times from the atmosphere and from said gas to prevent dissolving of the latter in said fluid and to prevent chemical reaction between said gas and said fluid.

2. An hydraulic shock strut comprising a cylinder having one end thereof open to the atmosphere, the other end of said cylinder being closed against communication with the atmosphere, a partition fixed to said cylinder intermediate the ends thereof and dividing the cylinder into spaced chambers, a passage through said partition centrally thereof, a tapered plunger reciprocal within said cylinder and extending through said passage to define a metering orifice therewith, spaced pistons carried by said plunger at opposite sides of said partition, said chambers being adapted to contain a body of hydraulic fluid confined between said pistons and metered through said orifice on one stroke of said plunger, said orifice being the sole means for metering said fluid on said one stroke of said plunger one-way, by-pass valve means in said partition adapted to accommodate unmetered flow of said fluid between said chambers on the other stroke of said plunger, said valve means comprising a plurality of ports around said passage and adapted to interconnect said chambers, an annular valve plate at the side of said partition facing the open end of said cylinder, and'spring means carried by said partition'for yieldingly urging said plate to closed position over said ports, a spring consisting of a body of compressible gas confined between one of said pistons and the closed end of said cylinder, said gas being the sole spring means for resisting said one stroke of said plunger and being adapted to actuate said plunger on said other stroke thereof, and a slidable fluid tight seal between each piston and said cylinder whereby said fluid is spaced at all times from the atmosphere and from said gas to prevent dissolving of the latter in said fluid and to prevent chemical reaction between said gas and said fluid.

FRED E. BACHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,759,674 Wa11ace May 20, 1930 1,886,712 Messier Nov. 8, 1932 1,956,669 Charles May 1, 1934 2 ,248,865 Griepenstroh July 8, 1941 2,364,865 Mattingly Dec. 12, 1944 2,395,595 Underwood Feb. 26, 1946 2,404,111 Underwood July'lfi, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 244,332 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1925 751,475 France June 19, 1933 

